Letterpress Business Cards
Custom printed on thick cotton stock with deep impression letterpress, foil stamping, edge painting, and more.
Letterpress business cards can help differentiate your business and make the strongest initial impression. After all, if you pay this much attention to your business card, you must be someone who values precision and detail. We help you express the unique identity of your business by crafting custom cards through letterpress, foil, or embossing on fine textured papers like Crane's Lettra or Classic Crest Epic Black — or hundreds of other options.
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What options are available for letterpress business cards?
Letterpress printing is just the starting point. We offer duplexing, edge painting, edge foiling, blind debossing, and custom die cutting — often combined on a single card.
Duplexed and triplexed business cards
Duplexing mounts two different printed sheets back-to-back after printing to create a thicker card stock, with each side presenting a different feel and look. Using two different paper colors creates a distinctive colored edge that's visible from the side.
Triplexing adds a third center sheet, creating a luxuriously thick card with a bold colored core visible along the edges. The combinations are practically limitless.
Edge painted business cards
Edge painting adds a pop of color to the sides of your cards. We mix the color to your specification and paint the edges after printing, creating an even and consistent color all the way around. This process works best on double-thick papers like 600gsm cotton, where the painted edge is wide enough to be clearly visible.
Edge foiled business cards
Edge foiling (also called gilding) applies metallic foil to the edges of the cards — gold, silver, copper, or rose gold. The foil is applied by our experienced vendor after printing. It creates a unique look that catches the light and stands out from painted edges.
Blind debossed and embossed business cards
A blind deboss or emboss adds a subtle tactile detail — an impression with no ink. It rewards close examination and signals a level of craft that recipients notice even when they can't name the technique. Combined with letterpress and foil, it creates multi-layered texture.
Die cut business cards
We love creating custom shaped business cards. Standard shapes (circle, rounded corners, square) are available as stock dies. For a completely custom shape, we use a custom cutting die that can cut your cards into almost any shape you can design as a clean vector. A card shaped like something relevant to your business is something a customer will remember.
Multiple sets for your whole team
Whether your company has one employee or a hundred, creating matching sets with variable information (different names, titles, contact details) on a common design is something we love to help accomplish. A cohesive card design across your team makes a strong collective impression.
What papers do letterpress business cards use?
Thick, soft cotton papers give the deepest letterpress impression and the most satisfying feel. Crane's Lettra 600gsm is our most popular choice.
- Crane's Lettra 600gsm — 100% cotton, exceptionally soft, takes a very deep impression. The standard for premium letterpress business cards.
- Classic Crest Epic Black — for dark-background card designs, printed with foil or white ink.
- Colorplan — wide range of rich colors in 350gsm and 700gsm weights.
- Gmund Cotton — soft cotton texture, available in several natural tones.
- Custom papers — we source paper from hundreds of options. Tell us what you're looking for and we'll find the right match.
Frequently asked questions
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What is the standard business card size?
The standard US business card size is 3.5" × 2". We also offer square cards (2.5" × 2.5"), European size (3.346" × 2.165"), and custom sizes. Non-standard sizes require a custom cutting die, which is a one-time setup cost.
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What is the minimum order quantity for letterpress business cards?
Our minimum is typically 50 cards per design. Letterpress has fixed setup costs (plate making, makeready), so larger quantities are more economical per card. We'll provide a quote at your requested quantity and may suggest a slightly larger quantity if the per-card cost drops significantly.
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Can I order letterpress business cards online?
Yes. Start with our quote form, tell us your quantity, paper preference, and techniques wanted. We'll review your design files and provide a quote within 1–2 business days. Once approved and deposited, we'll schedule your job and keep you updated through production.
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What file format do I need to provide?
Vector artwork is required — Adobe Illustrator (.ai), EPS, or PDF with all fonts outlined or embedded. Provide separate files or layers for each color and for foil. Document should be at final trim size with 0.125" bleed on all sides. We'll review your files when you submit your order and flag any issues before production.
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How long does letterpress business card printing take?
Standard turnaround is 2–3 weeks after design approval and deposit. Rush options are available on a case-by-case basis. Edge painting and edge foiling add 3–5 business days. Contact us if you have a deadline.
Ready to design your business cards?
Tell us your quantity, paper preference, and the techniques you're interested in. We'll put together a detailed quote.
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